WHAT IS THE STRIKES (MINIMUM SERVICE LEVELS) ACT?

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january/february 2024 :: RMTnews 9 The government’s draconian Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act has been forced through parliament by the government. This means that when workers lawfully vote to strike in health, education, fire, transport, border security and nuclear decommissioning, they could be forced to attend work – and sacked if they don’t comply. It has now become clear that in some sectors affected by MSLs, the vast majority of workers would be prohibited from ever taking strike action. This undemocratic new law is set to curtail the right to strike for one in five workers. This malicious legislation imposes unworkable bureaucracy on unions and their members, and also puts them at risk of huge and unacceptable penalties if they fall foul of the rules. The government is riding roughshod over workers’ rights to take strike action to defend their pay and conditions. The UK already has some of the most restrictive trade union laws in the world. But instead of a proper plan to boost jobs and raise living standards, the Conservative government is trying to make it even harder to win fair pay and conditions. But RMT and other unions will not stand by and let workers get sacked for defending their pay and conditions. And it won’t rest until this malicious, unnecessary and unworkable law has been repealed. The TUC has also agreed that the entire trade union movement will rally behind any union attacked under these MSL laws or any worker sacked for exercising their fundamental right to strike. PROTECT THE RIGHT TO STRIKE The government believed that this law would be easy to push through. But the trade union movement won allies across society, across the political spectrum and around the world. The condemnation of these anti-democratic plans made headlines at home and abroad and they were defeated three times in the House of Lords. It has delayed the implementation of this latest Tory anti-trade union law, embarrassed the Conservatives and made them pay a political price. The Trade Union Congress has also secured a vital commitment from the Labour Party that it would repeal this pernicious law in their first 100 days of office. But until then RMT will join with other unions to take all opportunities to challenge, frustrate and resist this legislation and its implementation. The TUC has secured commitments from the Welsh and Scottish governments as well as city mayors and council leaders that they will not implement minimum service levels. Trade unions will also continue to push employers not to impose work notices. In every workplace where employers attempt to impose these draconian rules, they can expect the trade union movement to respond with a show of force and solidarity for any workers affected. The government has adopted a reckless approach with its minimum service levels legislation and the trade union movement has vowed to explore all options to fight this legislation including legal routes. The right to strike is a fundamental liberty and must be defended at all costs. WHAT IS THE STRIKES (MINIMUM SERVICE LEVELS) ACT? Trade unions vow to back any union or worker sacked for exercising the right to strike